Why is the villa selction part so darn hard?

[aroobagirl]

Okay, it is hard but consider how much harder with little kids in tow! I was so ready to rent Bongo Bongo when they had their blog running. Then an unplanned adoption started the clock again - I have to wait until she is 8!
The number of rentals which accept children really limits your options!

[PA Girl]

I guess that's why we are staying at the same villa again next May!

I hear ya! We would rent the same house year after year (love that much) but the child-age restriction (I feel your pain aroobagirl) has forced us out for the time being.

[AnyTing]

You have my sympathy, X. I used to AGONIZE over the villa decision. It made me nuts. I am such an overplanner that no decision is simple.

While there is a small (very small) part of me that does miss the excitement associated with a new place, the other 99.9% of me is really happy that I don't do the villa search anymore. I truly can't imagine staying anywhere but Sunnyledge now. It totally suits me on so many levels and just holds a magic for me that I can't explain. It's definitely my "home away from home." December will be visit #6 to the same villa. Nuts, huh?

[Lulu76]

Part of me would have been very content staying at the same villa trip after trip. However, I feel like part of the fun of going and renting a villa is seeing new places and experiencing new things.

[toni]

My husband says I enjoy the planning more than the actual trip, and he may be right I start out with a big yellow legal pad to list all the places that appeal and are within a broad price range, than start narrowing it down by availability, reviews, views, etc. I scour the internet for anything that's been written about the place. I actually find it to be a lot of fun and only sometimes stressful when I find I can't get the place I want because the availability calendar's not up to date

Enjoy your searching!

[waterguy]

I'm with you Vicky now that I have found my perfect villa it seems like coming home the only way i go any where else is if it won't handle the group.

[tjwgrr]

Just booked Miles Away from DSJ for late April '09- our 5th trip to STJ. I'd hate to think how much time my wife and I have invested in villa research. I did the spreadsheet thing too with clickable links- really helped. My wife for the first time became really involved in the villa selection- a good thing. She now understands how difficult it is, and if there's something she doesn't like about the villa, I don't take all the blame.

We were trying to stay $2000.00 or less with pool, a/c in bedroom, closer to Cruz Bay- not Coral Bay or East end. Villas that fit the bill were either already booked, or they seemed a little tired.

Anyways, it looks like Miles Away is a good decision based on all the + reviews on this forum, and Joe & Rachelle's great photos.

[Teresa_Rae]

I wish all villa rental companies had a search tool as good as Caribbean Villas. CV makes it so easy.

[Diana2]

Yea, CV has a good search tool but it's too bad they also have the bogus 5% charge. I refuse to pay it. It just rubs me wrong.

[Teresa_Rae]

I guess we could think of it as a 5% charge for a good search tool?

I will rent from CV but I consider the 5% as part of the villa price when comparing it to other options.

[traveler22]

I have no problem when it just my wife and I or my wife and kids but when it become a adult group trip and you have to email everyone pix and maps so they know the locations and answer a hundred question from the newbies, I GO NUTS ! I always try to get out of being the planner but I'm told that I'm good at it so I wish they would all just trust me and let me plan the damn trip!
Sorry for the rant, I'm going to have a drink now

[Rachelle & Joe]

Hi All, We usually like to try different villas & locations, but having stayed at Beautiful Miles Away this past May for 25 daze that may change ! The villa & location ( Rendezvous bay overlooking Fish Bay ) were just perfect !! The owners take great pride & care in the villa & it shows ! they realy are hands on to make sure it's alway's up to par ! This villa was perfect for us & we loved the surrounding area ! The owners have recently built another Gorgeous villa on STT that they call St.Somewhere it's listed under www.Mclaughlinanderson.com WOW ! The owners invited us to visit while we were on STJ (they were staying there memorial wkend.) but we never made it.. could not bring ourseves to leave STJ ! Tj we r sure u will Love Miles Away !!!! U picked a Winner !!!!!!!

[GaryLC]

The main problem that I have is that Chip will not stay in Coral Bay. He has said that while he likes it, he just wants to be closer to Cruz Bay. So, it limits my search for a smaller, more economical house.

That's funny, because I don't like to stay near Cruz Bay, I only want to stay in Coral Bay!!!

[aangione]

we too had lotsa problems choosing the right house to stay at; they all look so da$$ beautiful it's really difficult; we DO feel now that we may have found the "prince" after staying in at least 2 or 3 "frogs"; we're returning again this year for the 4th time and that says a lot if you knew us; the home is Sago Palms and it's rented thru Private Homes for Private Vacations; it's very close to everyt'ing but especially private; unfortunately it's at the end of a verrrrrry long, unpaved, rocky, scary dirt road - but is it worth the drive!!! no real neighbors, to speak of, so almost total privacy

[pipanale]

Before our first trip in '04 I went through it all. I agonized for months. I trolled all the boards. We found a house and liked it. We went back to it in 2006 so I didn't have to agonize again. I'll behonest, I missed it.

Last summer, we rented a house here in NC in Emerald Isle. Same process again...except, we narrowed it down to a dozen, hopped in the car and toured them all. If only it were that easy for StJ.

Then, at Thanksgiving, I sat our group down in front of the laptop. I had spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations on the final 6 villas. They took one look at me, took another at the leftover turkey and left the room.

I try too hard...but, for a sicko like me, it's fun.